Are you alone on the island?

[Fragamacrunch]

When I was playing through, just past the Bothy, where there's a cave in the cliff opposite the path you're headed down, I saw a torch. At first I just thought it was in the wall of the cave, but walking down the path, I saw it move to the left, being carried by a silhouette out of sight. I played through that chapter again, and saw it again, but couldn't make out what the silhouette was.

I played through a third time, to show my gf, who's an English major who I thought might appreciate the game, but on that third playthrough the torch and whatever was carrying it wasn't there. However, in the last chapter, walking up the beach towards the cliffside path, just to the left of the candle on the cliff, we both thought we saw a silhouette, too far away to make out clearly. I checked out that area when I was up on the cliff and we're pretty sure we didn't mistake a random fence post for something.

I haven't seen anyone else talk about this, so forgive me if it's already been discussed. Have you guys seen this? Or am I crazy, seeing things?

[Seanieboy87]

After finishing the game, I actually went on TV Tropes to see what they had to say about the game, and there is indeed an entry on shadows lurking in the background. So you're not mad! :) But I didn't see anything myself.

[Jack Pipsam]

I swear I saw a silhouette on a cliff as well.

Gotta love this game.

[Hangar34]

The short answer is no.

I had exactly the same experience as the OP. I saw the torch being carried by someone in the hillside cave, or thought I did. When I tried to replay it, I never saw the figure again. It quite creeped me out.

But then later, above the beach on the cliff that leads up to the aerial, a lone figure was standing that did not disappear until I got quite close. I have a screenshot as it was a very haunting moment: Lone Figure on Clifftop (http://www.hangar34.co.uk/images/LoneFigure.jpg)

A nice touch that adds an un-nerving aspect to the game.

[Irongiant666]

I've also seen that figure near the end. There have been other sightings too - another screenshot of the figure in another part of the 'game' can be seen here:

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/469735874906665339/C7787E72DD1EAB07AFBCB8AE86737C1E4014E60B/

look left ........

Lovely 'game', really enjoyed it, plus there's so much to think about and discuss. :)

[nightseifer]

There are multiple times I have seen silhouettes of people. This really is a game that requires multiple play throughs to get its true eeriness. The first is at the beginning. When looking up the lighthouse, a head retracts backwoods. When you first see the beached ships, follow the path to the right but whatch the path to the left. A silhouette will walk the path and wait at the end, as you approach, it fades. And the one that I noticed seemed to always be there was in the last level. Along the path u take up the hill after finding the paper boats. U can only see him from down below, but there is a figure that is standing next to the candles. it is fairly obvious. The last one I have seen is standing inside the gate at the beacon. I could see a light coming of its eyes. It seems to be staring directly at the moon. All of them disappear as u approach them. This is only of 3 run throughs, so there is probably more.

[Fragamacrunch]

Thanks for letting me know, and for the screenshots! It's appreciated =]

[DazJW]

In the game files there are two textures that could be the figure.

One is:
ghost_female_001 - which has a normal female face and resembles how the figure looked in the mod version (which glitched on my first playthrough so I could walk right up to the figure).
While the other is:
corpse_001 - which has a creepy decomposed face and what looks like maggots on its chest but has similar black clothes.

Edit:
I've just been noclipping around looking at things and got up close to a figure that was neither of the textures I mentioned. So maybe it looks different each time or maybe the textures I saw were unused.

[Marked One]

I've also seen that figure near the end. There have been other sightings too - another screenshot of the figure in another part of the 'game' can be seen here:

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/469735874906665339/C7787E72DD1EAB07AFBCB8AE86737C1E4014E60B/

look left ........

Lovely 'game', really enjoyed it, plus there's so much to think about and discuss. :)

This was the first one I saw.
Creeped me out!

[jdd91]

these figures are YOU from past play through's

[Irongiant666]

these figures are YOU from past play through's

Not all of them are (if any) - the one near the very end of the game certainly isn't, as I first enountered that figure on my very first walkthrough. And I know from reading other forums and watching YouTube vids that others have encountered one of the other figures (by the wrecked boats) on their first walkthough.

Apparently there are some other figures too, larger ones ....... (I've seen a screenshot and read about them (there's mention of them a few messages above this one), but I won't spoil it for anyone).

I'm on my second walkthrough now and, knowing that there are other figures, I find the game even creepier now. I tell you, if I'm in a dark claustrophobic area of the island and one of them appears in front of me, I'll have a damn heart attack ....... :)

[DazJW]

these figures are YOU from past play through's

It appears in some places you can't get to so that doesn't make sense, though it's hinted that you've been through the island before in some of the narration.

[Hangar34]

I think the figures are there for one (or all) of the following reasons:

1. The figures are you, at various points along the journey that you have made before, but never completed. We know that the narrator was in hospital at least once before with a kidney stone problem.

2. They are shades of others who have made the same journey... Esther, Donnelly, Jacobson.

3. They are simply there to creep you out and turn the game into more a ghost story.

[jorre22225]

When I was playing through, just past the Bothy, where there's a cave in the cliff opposite the path you're headed down, I saw a torch. At first I just thought it was in the wall of the cave, but walking down the path, I saw it move to the left, being carried by a silhouette out of sight. I played through that chapter again, and saw it again, but couldn't make out what the silhouette was.

I played through a third time, to show my gf, who's an English major who I thought might appreciate the game, but on that third playthrough the torch and whatever was carrying it wasn't there. However, in the last chapter, walking up the beach towards the cliffside path, just to the left of the candle on the cliff, we both thought we saw a silhouette, too far away to make out clearly. I checked out that area when I was up on the cliff and we're pretty sure we didn't mistake a random fence post for something.

I haven't seen anyone else talk about this, so forgive me if it's already been discussed. Have you guys seen this? Or am I crazy, seeing things?

In the original mod, you are not alone also. You can see Esther (which is actually a ghost) walk for about 3 or 4 times but each time you approach she runs away and then dissapears. If I were to explain, Robert Briscoe wanted to re-enter her appearance as a ghost just like in the original mod. I only saw that woman (in the orginal) after the second playthrough.

Principally, even knowing this, you are still alone, because that silhoute is simply a shadow, non-existing as much as you are... So you are still alone, and when you die there is nobody so it all ends up with the island being deserted :)

Even if you haven't played the original mod, you should. It's very interesting to see the similar things, and also the new things

[HeroOfHappyland]

As well as seeing OP's, I also saw a ghostly figure standing by the door on the house on the hill. It was the one that creeped me out the most for some reason. probably because once you get close enough the ghost moves very quickly into the house. needless to say, I was hesitant to enter after seeing that.

Here's a screen shot: http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/488876271488667148/60C8CB4D3DF57D14EE0CFEA6EF91B8A173C2EF8E/

It's not the best picture, but if you look close enough you can see it standing by the door. Creepy stuff

[hakry]

In the game files there are two textures that could be the figure.

Do you have screenshots of the ghosts up close? I'd be very interested to see what they actually look like, rather than just a black silhouette in the distance.

[Gamefan74]

Sure, I've got a couple you can see, apparently you get stalked quite a bit in this game

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/504638937257134249/096B9D311E2B89346CB0F0407CCE651D7B40A670/
http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/504638937257132828/5591ED977B702414FD92681706092A3D55C48452/
http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/504638937256843182/E86CAB16BF5304A361BBC469711C466F9A201476/

[Humma Kavula]

Where's the first one from?

[Gamefan74]

It's the cottage on top of the hill in the second chapter with the winding path upwards to it.

[Humma Kavula]

Oh, ok.

[skia]

This is exactly something I had wished they added. Now I know they did and I better look for it my next play through.

Thanks!

[Irongiant666]

Gamefan74 - I'm surprised that you got so close to the figure before it ran away, especially when it's just standing there with the lantern. What happened to it then?

[Therion_Prime]

Is it death?

[Irongiant666]

Not my screenshot, but I found this on the thread at Neogaf: http://neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=462375&page=7:

Image:

http://i.imgur.com/TdTmc.jpg

This was taken at the base of the aerial, right at the end of the game before you automatically ascend the ladder and jump .......

[Gamefan74]

Actually I used a console command to increase the zoom magnification. All of them will disappear once you get close enough to make out their silhouette.

The one in the cave, much like the rest, will simply walk away out of sight. That particular figure will walk upwards into the cave, and that's it.

[Irongiant666]

Thanks, nice work with increasing the zoom mag. :)

[Irongiant666]

How about this one - not a figure but a moving lamp ......... at the very start of the game, go left and UP the path besides the lighthouse building. Keep going (yes, you can get around the gap in the path by moving hard right) and you'll go through a cave/tunnel. At the end of that there's a cave opening below and opposite, and SOMETIMES you'll see a lamp swinging side in that cave opening. It stops after a few seconds as whoever is holding the lamp must go to the left.

[Therion_Prime]

Strange, in my game that black deathlike figure at the aerial was human and had no black robes on :eek:

It was blueish from the moonlight and had dark hair.

[Humma Kavula]

How about this one - not a figure but a moving lamp ......... at the very start of the game, go left and UP the path besides the lighthouse building. Keep going (yes, you can get around the gap in the path by moving hard right) and you'll go through a cave/tunnel. At the end of that there's a cave opening below and opposite, and SOMETIMES you'll see a lamp swinging side in that cave opening. It stops after a few seconds as whoever is holding the lamp must go to the left.
Man, i just noticed that and i got ninja'd XD
But yes, and there are no light sources in the cave you're watching at through the hole once you get there.

[Irongiant666]

Nice find, most interesting - anyone got a screenshot of the human? :)

[Gamefan74]

Do you guys mean this one:

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/504638937256841916/6B8A9161632EC83478BE77B87DA0639AA333FC27/

[Fragamacrunch]

You guys are awesome! Thanks for all the screenshots!

[Irongiant666]

Nice one Gamefan74 - I guess that's the one near the end of the game?

Can't help noticing that it's not wearing a robe either (you can see the pants/trousers), so now we have three figures (robed, woman in a dress, and the robeless one ...... ).

Curiouser and curiouser. :)

I'm now off to bed to have dark dreams about robed figures ...... <brrrrr> :)

[Humma Kavula]

As i approaced the middle stone in that little formation at the end of the first area, i heard some distant sounds of switching radio frequencies and some male voice saying: Greetings.
I surely didn't expect that!
This is my 4th playthrough but i've never walked close to that stone.
Also, there's another stone earlier that also make weird noices.
It's heard on this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbRQej8OOhk) video, at 08:49
I also heard it when i walked next to it.

Plus, that figure Gamefan74 posted a screenshot off is just a one colour sprite. It was gray as i noclipped to it in my earlier playthrough.

[Fragamacrunch]

As i approaced the middle stone in that little formation at the end of the first area, i heard some distant sounds of switching radio frequencies and some male voice saying: Greetings.
I surely didn't expect that!


Oh, yeah, I totally forgot about the noises, too! There's the sound of rattling when you leave the hermit's cave, I heard the radio sounds, too, and there's an alcove where you can hear chanting before you enter the cave. Are there any others?

I'm becoming obsessed with this game.

[<JoCo_Fan7CH>]

Oh, yeah, I totally forgot about the noises, too! There's the sound of rattling when you leave the hermit's cave, I heard the radio sounds, too, and there's an alcove where you can hear chanting before you enter the cave. Are there any others?

I'm becoming obsessed with this game.

In the last chapter, when you see some car parts (door, etc.) near a few candles, if you go near to them, a creepy music, paired with weird noises plays. I can't describe it too well, because it's been a while.

[Bile JAR]

http://steamcommunity.com/id/jarradio/screenshot/486624538701281109

[Humma Kavula]

I'm becoming obsessed with this game.
Likewise :D

There are a lot of places where sounds (sometimes they're random, sometimes not) are heard as you get to them.
Now as i've started to look for these places on purpose, i've heard a lot of noices and sounds i didn't hear before.

[k3Ck]

It shows up in different places randomly it seems. I've seen it twice, once in the second chapter and once in the 4th chapter.

[Gamefan74]

@Humma Kavula
Same here, looking at all your posts, I can believe how much I missed my first time around. Every playthrough I'm going through I find something new.

[Humma Kavula]

This was interesting.
Compared to the image (http://i.imgur.com/TdTmc.jpg) Irongiant666 posted, the (http://steamcommunity.com/id/That_Finnish_Guy/screenshot/468610140386041950) ghost (http://steamcommunity.com/id/That_Finnish_Guy/screenshot/468610140386047299/) was different to me.

Edit: Also there was a paperboat (http://steamcommunity.com/id/That_Finnish_Guy/screenshot/468610140386059060) floating in the underground river. But all the 21 paperboats the narrator speaks of are at the beach...

[Humma Kavula]

And (http://steamcommunity.com/id/That_Finnish_Guy/screenshot/468610160541236847) now (http://steamcommunity.com/id/That_Finnish_Guy/screenshot/468610160541234665)these (http://steamcommunity.com/id/That_Finnish_Guy/screenshot/468610160541238854).
I don't take credit of finding the place.

[Gamefan74]

Same here, I got a different ghost.

No fair, you guys got a normal citizen model, I got the scary looking one. :P

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/504638937258483634/F2C982A3707C950347B82E99C57ACF9CA30718F0/

[el_pitaya]

I ♥♥♥♥ted in my pants when followed this road: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2005679/DEAR%20ESTHER/ghost%20on%20beach%20way%20to%20get%20there.jpg

and then watched this guy!! haha http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2005679/DEAR%20ESTHER/ghost%20on%20beach.jpg

[Hangar34]

Also there was a paperboat floating in the underground river. But all the 21 paperboats the narrator speaks of are at the beach...

Follow that underground river all the way to its end, in the direction you saw the paper boat travelling, and you will find alot more clogging up the end of the river.

[Irongiant666]

Same here, I got a different ghost.

No fair, you guys got a normal citizen model, I got the scary looking one. :P

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/504638937258483634/F2C982A3707C950347B82E99C57ACF9CA30718F0/


Ahhh, that'll be the one with the maggoty face then .......

Some great finds in this thread. Especially curious are the ones on the beach where you can only see them by their reflections. This game gets creepier and creepier ....

[DazJW]

It's a shame so many people will never see most of this stuff because they only play through once and think that's it. I still haven't done a second full playthrough but I'm going to have to do quite a lot of them from the looks of things.

[Irongiant666]

It's a shame so many people will never see most of this stuff because they only play through once and think that's it. I still haven't done a second full playthrough but I'm going to have to do quite a lot of them from the looks of things.

Agreed - I'm sure that a lot of people simply won't re-play it. Still, their loss I guess. :)

I'm currently on my second playthrough and knowing that there are ghosts around makes it a much creepier experience than the first time through.

[Irongiant666]

Just a thought, but has anyone seen any ghostly figures in the main cave system? So far they all seem to be outside (except for the one that I mentioned earlier that's just a swinging lamp in a cave mouth near the beginning of the first chapter).

[DazJW]

Just a thought, but has anyone seen any ghostly figures in the main cave system?

I didn't see any but I expected to see one in the big room with all the water streaming around the top. There are several ways in and out of the room (that you get to later) which seem like a good place to put one. The room with the underground river would be a possibility too.

[Irongiant666]

If you look at shadee's YouTube video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDJbQkK3GWo&list=UU4W25rhnldJeQppj_IILXKA&index=1&feature=plcp

Watch the cave at about 11:36 - you'll see a light then, if you up the resolution to 720 and look closely, you'll see a figure floating or walking to the back of the cave .........

The video also briefly shows the figure near the wrecked boats at 3:36

[Humma Kavula]

I didn't see any but I expected to see one in the big room with all the water streaming around the top. There are several ways in and out of the room (that you get to later) which seem like a good place to put one. The room with the underground river would be a possibility too.
Gone through those parts multiple times, no dice.

[Billy Stinkwate]

So we have a ghostly figure in a robe and another one, probably a women, in a dress.

And we can find this book in Chapter 2:

http://www.imagebanana.com/view/kh32bfz4/jakobson0007.jpg

Coincidence?
Well...I dont think so - anymore.
Can anyone figure out the title of the book?

[Irongiant666]

I've seen that book before but didn't make the connection - nice work. :)

As you say, what on earth is the title of the book?

What language is it?

Any ideas anyone?

Perhaps Greek?

[DazJW]

Can anyone figure out the title of the book?

The texture for it is Steam\steamapps\common\dear esther\dearesther\materials\esther\paper\paper_001 .vtf

It looks like it's mirrored ingame and the texture looks like it has the right way around version looking at the text.

It looks like "METHEPANHKO" but obviously it's not English characters, the N is backwards for example.

[Irongiant666]

Ahh, nice one. I'm almost sure it's Greek ........

[Irongiant666]

I've just started up a new thread about this book (which I'm starting to think may be The Rime of the Ancient Mariner):

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?p=29251874#post29251874

[Irongiant666]

Oe thing worth noting is that the distant figures only 'vanish' when you look directly at them, ie the best way to see them is at the edges of the screen.

For example, look at shadee's video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDJbQkK3GWo&list=UU4W25rhnldJeQppj_IILXKA&index=1&feature=plcp

At 1:22 you'll see the figure running down the left side of the cliff, but as soon as the camera turns to face it, it vanishes.

Note: make the video fullscreen and 720p resolution.

[Deluxius]

Here is a screenshot compilation I just made of three figures. I discovered that at the base of the tower there is a person standing. I am not sure he/she can be seen by normal gameplay. The person is random each time a chapter is started.

Is that Esther in the first picture?

http://i44.tinypic.com/149au8p.jpg

I will also try to make a video of the actual gameplay and post it this weekend. The figures are moving in a ghostly way which makes it eerie.

[Ashpool]

Almost as soon as I started playing I got the feeling that I wasn't alone. Then my friend asked if I saw the same thing he did on the coast.

Near the beginning of my second play-through I saw a lantern across the bay flicker several times and go out while the narrator said something about a hermit living inside a cave. Very cool.

I like how the game makes me feel as though there's something there regardless of what really is. Creepy as hell if you ask me.

[hakry]

Same here, I got a different ghost.

No fair, you guys got a normal citizen model, I got the scary looking one. :P

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/504638937258483634/F2C982A3707C950347B82E99C57ACF9CA30718F0/


Very clearly one of the stock HL2/Source models:

http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20091008232617/half-life/en/images/d/de/Citizen_corpse_front.jpg

Still damn creepy though.

[Irongiant666]

Here is a screenshot compilation I just made of three figures. I discovered that at the base of the tower there is a person standing. I am not sure he/she can be seen by normal gameplay. The person is random each time a chapter is started.

Is that Esther in the first picture?

http://i44.tinypic.com/149au8p.jpg

I will also try to make a video of the actual gameplay and post it this weekend. The figures are moving in a ghostly way which makes it eerie.

Very nice finds. Vidoes would be most welcome. :)

[DazJW]

Strangely there are two different textures for the hooded figure, one with large hands and one with small hands.

[Irongiant666]

Strangely there are two different textures for the hooded figure, one with large hands and one with small hands.

How curious. Different people perhaps in ghostly form - one male, one female?

[brataccas]

creepy game this, at near the start in a blocked cave theres "something" doing a morse code message with an orange light, anyone know what it says? or who the hell it is?

[Boredgamer]

I'm sure i spotted the ghost and maybe a body inside the cave when you walk round the edge of a hole. If you look left it seems someone is standing near a candle and looks like someone is on the floor nearby did not think to get a pic.

[tunguska47]

i feel what those men felt on that island alone and its probably the worst feeling all of my friends moved away and hate making new friends am not good at it

[lordnikon]

Not a ghost/figure as such, but someone must own these clothes?

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/468610171469304038/0712B8401D0902714D3871196D99C060A9D7487F/

They look relatively new, compared to other discarded items throughout the game. These were in a corner of the last cave in chapter one, before the deep pit and standing stones... Some nearby food too. Perhaps they belong to the owner of the lamp visible from the first cave in chapter one?

[Splitlimes]

I've only seen the cloaked figure, i thought he was the hermit mentioned earlier in the game, watching you.

[rabuf]

[...]
Is that Esther in the first picture?

http://i44.tinypic.com/149au8p.jpg


It's very likely that this is one of the female citizen models from HL2, just being re-used and slightly edited to serve the ghostly appearance.

I've used your screenshot for a quick comparison. Clothing texture seems nearly identical to me, but see for yourself;

http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/9299/hl2sourcemodels.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/843/hl2sourcemodels.png/)


It's a very nice touch indeed. I think i'll catch some sleep before replaying all of it again... In daylight. :p

[DazJW]

Not a ghost/figure as such, but someone must own these clothes?

It's smart clothing - tie, formal trousers, formal shirt.
Paul was at a sales conference so I suspect they're his.

[Nova Prospekt]

This game really scared me more than the original F.E.A.R, and that's quite an achievement for a game that isn't a horror game/tries to be.

The narration doesn't really give a hint to these apparitions, which is why i question why they are even there.The most confusing sequence was

When you jump into that pool and see a drowned city with 2 flashing cars, explore it a bit and then arrive at the cave exit

That disturbed me for some reason.Also, i think someone already mentioned this, when you reach [/url], you hear very weird voices, and this creeped me out.Any one knows why?

Also, did anyone notice the [url=http://steamcommunity.com/id/ProspektNova/screenshot/486624570089398770]figure (http://steamcommunity.com/id/ProspektNova/screenshot/486624570112374078) in the first lighthouse in the first chapter?

And this? (http://steamcommunity.com/id/ProspektNova/screenshot/486624570112620011)

Also this message (http://steamcommunity.com/id/ProspektNova/screenshot/486624570112492587)

What a cool game though.I'm so glad this reminded everyone how amazing the source engine can be.A wonderful poetic game which i'll be playing again very soon.

[brataccas]

This game really scared me more than the original F.E.A.R, and that's quite an achievement for a game that isn't a horror game/tries to be.




glad im not the only one then :eek: this esther game the only game that has given me genuine goosebumps :(

[Irongiant666]

I think it's been mentioned in this thread already, (or another) but near the end of the game on the beach, if you find a candle near a puddle of water and look at the puddle from the correct angle and position, you'll see a spectral image in the reflection, instead of the candle reflection. Here's four examples:

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g319/Dalek99999/paul0027.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g319/Dalek99999/paul0026.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g319/Dalek99999/paul0025.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g319/Dalek99999/paul0024.jpg

[hakry]

Well on my first playthrough I noticed the apparition standing on the bluff above the moonlit beach in the final chapter.

Second playthrough, I've seen the "hermit" ghost in Chapter 2. I've been using noclip to get a better view, and the one up at the Bothy still freaked me out when it moved indoors, even though I was expecting it.

See if you can spot our friend in this shot (http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/4945/dearesther2012021800491.jpg). :)

[Irongiant666]

Nice one. Makes you wonder just which ghost is close by that you don't even know about ........

[brataccas]

how do you use/enable no clip?

[hakry]

Open the developer console using the key just below Esc (` or ¬), type "sv_cheats 1", press enter, then type "noclip" and press enter. Close the console.

[brataccas]

Thanks, nice work with increasing the zoom mag. :)

how do you increase the zoom in the console? thx

saw my first ghost in a cave, creepy as f**k

edit: thx hakry for noclip

[Cthulhu923]

During the last time I played it, as soon as I reached the top of the summit with the aerial on it at the end, I looked to the right. Inside the cage that contains the electrical conduits was very clearly standing an opague figure, unlike the other "ghostly" figures you can observe at various points around the island( and much further away). I about had a heart attack. Strangely enough, I couldnt get the idea out of my head that the figure looked very reminiscent of the dead and decaying human body models found in Half Life 2 (blueshirt, burnt face showing bone structure). CREEPY!

[Irongiant666]

So you saw this one?

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/504638937258483634/F2C982A3707C950347B82E99C57ACF9CA30718F0/

There are others (not disfigured) - a man, a woman and the hooded figure.

[colonial113]

I like the fact that the ghost can only be seen well in the peripheral vision of the character. Here is an example, you can see the ghost on the left side of the picture.
So here I am, standing still, and looking at the ship - you can clearly see the entity: http://i39.tinypic.com/33xu5hu.jpg
As I slowly turn my head to take a good look at it, it starts to vanish: http://i40.tinypic.com/2ynkxzp.jpg
And here I am looking at it, but seeing nothing: http://i41.tinypic.com/1416sld.jpg
I was completely motionless while trying to look at it.

[Irongiant666]

That's right, and when you look away again it reappears in your peripheral vision.

Different ghosts do different things - the one in the lighthouse (look up into the main tower when inside) looks over the edge then ducks out of view when you look at it

The one near the Bothy (standing by the door) goes inside the bothy as you approach

The ones (two at least) in the caves and cave mouths move out of sight when you see them

Yet the one near the candle close to the end of the game will tolerate you looking at it, and only disappears when you get really close

[monsterbasher]

http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US#/watch?v=M7GmNdEbaag it's real people, nobody knows about it though.

[atim]

http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US#/watch?v=M7GmNdEbaag it's real people, nobody knows about it though.

Pancakes?

[kelthuzadjk]

he meant this one (http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=US&hl=de&client=mv-google&v=M7GmNdEbaag) I think^^ link is somehow missleading as is the content of the video

[Irongiant666]

he meant this one (http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=US&hl=de&client=mv-google&v=M7GmNdEbaag) I think^^ link is somehow missleading as is the content of the video

It's a mod (ie 'Fake') but pretty effective. :)

[brataccas]

thats pretty cool

[avmf8]

After finishing the game, I actually went on TV Tropes to see what they had to say about the game, and there is indeed an entry on shadows lurking in the background. So you're not mad! :) But I didn't see anything myself.

Oh there is I was going to take a screenshot of the guy on the cliff and the shadow in the cave but I did'nt.

[Irongiant666]

Some interesting videos starting to appear on YouTube of the ghosts - some are using console commands to enable noclip and 'enhanced zoom', but they are interesting nonetheless.

Here's a couple (there's more):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnuLMfDG6l8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psezT5D7Kag

[crunk001]

these figures are YOU from past play through's

PAST playthroughs? Is there really anyone who plays this game twice?

Well its, super beautiful, indepth and intelligent story and everything - but twice? Well, for me it has no replay-value. Maybe to show it to my GF or someone else - but besides that, not really for me :)

[Chanchibe]

PAST playthroughs? Is there really anyone who plays this game twice?

Well its, super beautiful, indepth and intelligent story and everything - but twice? Well, for me it has no replay-value. Maybe to show it to my GF or someone else - but besides that, not really for me :)



I finished my 3rd play through today and I got more on the way.

Why?

1. I've only seen 2 ghosts and from what I read, there are more. I want to find them all by myself.
2. I want to understand the story better.

[Irongiant666]

PAST playthroughs? Is there really anyone who plays this game twice?

Yup, there's plenty of us.

Well its, super beautiful, indepth and intelligent story and everything - but twice? Well, for me it has no replay-value. Maybe to show it to my GF or someone else - but besides that, not really for me :)

Fair enough. But many play it more than once for a few reasons:

a) To re-experience the wonderfully immersive atmosphere
b) To 'lose' outselves in the game - it's a nice 'escape' from everyday life
c) To listen to more narrative clips and get a better idea of what is going on
d) To ghost hunt! :)

etc

[Owantjaaaa]

Some of the ghosts a friend of mine found
Chapter 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mn5I_qXX1Ck

And chapter 4:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyomQnEyj34

[Ladicuis]

Just to give you all a reason to another playthrough, when approaching the house on the hill, with the ghost in front I noticed a neatly stack of stones.

When I came up close a voice comes on saying something like "oh my god", hard to hear it.

There's another stack behind the shed on top of the hill, another audio is played here, can't make it out though.

[Irongiant666]

Thought I'd bump this useful ghost thread for any new players who might have missed it. :)

[g00nzer]

I know there have been many posts like this, but I actually didn't see any figures or anything like that until the last few minutes when you see the one clearly on top of the hill. I then saw the hooded man in the gate by the radio tower and came on to the forums to see what that could have been. It's insane to see all these haunting things I completely missed. I got this game because a friend of mine told me it looked pretty cool so I picked it up just to have it. Didn't really pay much attention to it, and just wanted to beat it just to say I had beat it. Now looking at all the sightings and figures you can witness, this makes me respect and love the game even more. The fact that you can go through the whole game, like me, not expecting or looking for any type of contact with another being, and then be surprised to see there were, in fact, figures watching you the whole time, just completely amazes me. I was expecting maybe an interesting story and some pretty scenery, but now the game feels so much more mysterious and puzzling. I'd recommend this game to anyone. Of course I would not tell them about any sightings they might have, just like I was totally unaware. Seeing something like that when you absolutely have no expectations for it is the craziest feeling. Definitely going to have to play through this game again.

[Irongiant666]

Yup, there's a lot more to this game than meats the eye. :)

There's a summary of the info on the shadowy figures on the Dear Esther Wiki:

http://dearesther.wikia.com/wiki/Ghosts

[Solarmech]

I missed a lot of Ghosts. :( sm

[Irongiant666]

Read this thread, look at the above linked wiki page and play it again, this time seeking them out. :)

[g00nzer]

I noticed something on this play through that never caught my attention on the last (since I didn't notice any of the ghosts/figures). Before you enter the cave, you see the ghosts on the trails ahead of you and such. However, once you enter the cave, the narrator says something about no longer following Donnelly's trail or guide or something. Not sure of the exact words, but he mentions Donnelly no longer being there. My thoughts are that Donnelly could be the ghost you are seeing, and you're seeing the journey he made in the past, and the ghosts represent the places he went, just as they are places you go in the present. What does everyone else think about this?

[Irongiant666]

It's certainly possible, but having seen close-ups of the ghosts they all have different forms.